How to Wear Weird Blush Colors (Orange, We're Looking At You)

We are lucky enough to be right smack in the middle of a very exciting time in beauty. From cotton candy hair and blue lipstick to purple mascara and neon eyeliner, anything goes when it comes to makeup and beauty. So, why are so many of us still playing it safe when it comes to our look? We always want to encourage you to step outside of your comfort zone, so today we are heading to uncharted blush territory. Check out these six blush shades that look a little weird, but are actually totally wearable.

We’re fine with throwing a little purple on our lids and lips, but, when it comes to our cheeks, we run for the hills. Why is that? We want to assure you that bright purple blush can be pretty fab and it actually works for all skin tones! Dust a light strip along the top of your cheekbones and blend upward for some subtle color play that’s slightly more intense than your traditional rosy formula. You can also swipe some purple blush along the hollows of the cheeks and blend it to add some definition to your cheeks and bring out those apples!

Orange blush is incredibly underrated if you ask us. Although a bright tangerine shade may make you cringe, you’d be surprised at what an amazing staple it could be. If your skin is looking a bit pale in the winter months, you can use an orange blush in substitution of your bronzer to add a little color to your skin. (This shade works best for fair to medium skin tones.) Lightly — emphasis on “lightly” — dust some orange blush in the spots you would apply your everyday bronzer. You can also go the traditional blush route and apply orange blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend the color out so it adds a healthy pop of warmth to your face.

A light, lilac purple blush looks great with a dewy spring look. Swap our your normal pink blush shade for a lavender one, pop some on your apples (make sure it aligns with the tip of your nose) and use an angled blush brush to blend upward toward the temple. Add a sheer, powder-based highlighter over the blush for a fairy-like, ethereal look.

As makeup lovers, we know the importance of turning up the drama now and again, and a bright, deep pink blush is a great way to up the ante (especially for those with warmer/darker skin tones). Use a big fluffy blush brush to swipe your fuchsia shade across your entire cheek and blend it until there’s seamless color transition.

OK, this is definitely one of the weirder shades in the bunch, but, let us assure you, it’s a life-saver. This cool, tawny shade can be used as a more subtle method of contouring (let’s call it accentuating, shall we?). Take a powder brush and apply the taupe shade along the top of your forehead, hollows of your cheeks, sides of your nose and jawline. Blend the color out until there are no visible lines and the color is subtle. The result should be a softly chiseled look!

Sorry, light-skinned ladies, but this deep red shade looks best on those with olive-to-dark complexions. A dark, burgundy or maroon blush is ideal for achieving that dramatic, vampy winter look that we all love. Using the same technique as the lilac blush, use a large blush brush to apply a light layer of red across the cheek, starting from the apples and working up toward the temple. Make sure to use a light hand, as this blush shade is often very pigmented!